Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1887-08-12

Iel matters DIV volunteering " ~ anu *
connoiter, which he did, creeping off into
the bush like a snake, while we hung of
in the stream waiting for him. In half an
hour he returned, and told us that there
was not a Nasal to be seen anywhere
about, but that he had discovered spot
where they had recently been encamped,
and that from various indications he Judged
that they must have moved on an hour or
so before: the man we saw having no doubt
been left to report our movements.
Thereupon we landed; and, having posted
a sentry, proceeded to cook and eat our
evening meal This done, we took the sit
uation into our serious consideration. OF
course, it was possible that the apparition
of the Nasal warrior had nothing to do
with us; that he was merely one of band
bent upon some marauding and numbering
expedition against another tribe. Our
friend. the Consul, had told Us that such
expeditions were about. But when we re
called the threat of the caravan leader, and
reflected on the ominous way in which the
warrior had shaken his spear at us. this
did not appear very probable. On the
contrary, what did seem probable was that
the party was after us and awaiting fav-
Orablc opportunity to attack US. This be-
ing 50 there were two things that we could
do-One of which was to go on, and the
ather to 90 back. The latter idea was,
however, rejected at once, it being obvious
that we should encounter as many dangers
in retreat as in advance; and, besides, we
had made up our minds to journey onward
at any price. Under these circumstances,
however, we did not consider it safe to
sleep ashore, so got into our canoes, and,
padding out into the middle of the stream,
which was not very wide here, managed to
anchor them by means of big stones fast
ened to ropes made of cocOanut-fber, OF
which there were several fathOms in each
canoe.
Here the mosquitoes nearly ate Us up
alive, and this, combined with anxiety as
to our position, etfectually prevented me
from sleeping rs the others were doing, not
Withstanding the attacks of the aforesaid
Tana mosquitoes. And so | lay awake,
smoking and rejecting on many things,
but, being of a practical turn of mind,
chiefly on how we were to give those Nasal
villains the slip. 1t was beautiful moon
light night, and, notwithstanding the
mosquitoes, and the great risk we were
running from fever sleeping in such a spot,
and forgetting that had the cramp very
badly in my right leg from squatting in a
constrained position in the canoe, and that
the " akwati who was sleeping by me
smelled horribly, | really began to enjoy
myself The moonbeams played upon the
surface of the running water that kept
speeding increasingly past us toward the
sea, like mems lives toward the grave, till
it glittered like wide sheet of silver in
fba WIN bp trna -f,,g CHI
Near the banks, however, it was very dark,
and the night-wind sighed sadly in the
reeds. To our left, on the farther side OF
the river, was little sandy bay which was
clear of trees; and here | could make out
the forms of numerous antelOpeS advancing
to the water, till suddenly there came an
Ominous roar, whereupon they all made off
hurriedly. Then after Il pause, | caught
sight of the massive form of his majesty,
the lion, coming down to drink his fill af-
ter meat Presently he moved on; then
came the crashing of the reeds about fifty
yards above us, and, a few minutes later,
n huge black mass rose out of the water,
about twenty yards from me, and snorted.
1t was the head of appropriateness Down
1t went without Il sound, only TO rise again
within five yards of where | sat. This was
especially rs the hippopotamus was evil
IDENTIFY animated by intense curiosity to
know what on earth our canoes were. He
opened his great mouth, to yawn | sup
pose, and gave me an excellent view of his
worries; and | could not help rejecting how
easily he could crunch up our frail canoe
with single bite. Indeed, l had half a
mind to give him ball from my eight
lint raHaotioy, Oh 70 LOT
him alone unless he actually made for the
boat. Presently he sank again as noise.
lessly as before, and | saw no more of him.
Just then, on looking toward the bank on
our right, 1 fancied caught sight of dark
figure fitting between the tree trunks ]
have very keen sight, and l was almost
sure that | saw something; but whether it
was bird, beast, or man, | could not say.
At the moment, however dark cloud
passed over the moon, and | saw no more
of il. Just then, too, although all the other
sounds of the forest had ceased a species
of horned owl, with which | was well &C
quainted, began to boot with great persist
ency. After that. save for the rustling of
trees and reeds when the wind caught
them, there was complete silence
But somehow, in the most unaccountable
way, | had suddenly turned nervous
There was no particular reason why !
should be, beyond the ordinary reasons
which surround the Central African tray
eler and yet undoubtedly was. If there
is one thing more than another of which |
have the most complete and entire scorn
and disbelief, it is of presentiments; and
yet here | was all of sudden filled with
and possessed by II most undoubted pre-.
sentiment of approaching evil. | would
not give way to it, however, although l
felt the cold perSpiration stand out upon
my forehead. | would not arouse the
others. Worse and worse grew; my pulse
tluttered like dying mans; my nerves
thrilled with the horrible sense of impotent
terror, which anybody who is subject to
nightmare will be familiar with; but still
my will triumphed over my fears and |
lay quiet for was half-sitting, half-lying,
in the bow of the Canoe), only turning my
face 50 rs to command view of Umslopo-
gaas and the two Wakwafi who were sleep
ing alongside of and beyond me.
In the distance l heard hippopotamus
splash family; then the owl hoOted again
in kind of unnatural, screaming note, (no
doubt this owl was wingless bird. | af-
terward learned that the hooting of an owl
Is a fayorite signal among the Nasal tribes),
and the wind began TO moan plaintively
through the trees, making heart-chilling
music. Above was the black bosom of the
cloud, and past me swept the black flood
of the water, and l felt as though 1 and
death were utterly alone between them.
1t was very desolate.
Suddenly my blood seemed to freeze in
my veins, and my heart to stand still.
Was it fancy, or were we moving? l turned
my eyes 10 lock for the other canoe which
should be alongside of us. | could not see
it, but instead | saw lean and clutching
black hand lifting itself above the gunwale
of the little boat Surely it was night
mare! At the same instant dim but
devilish-looking face appeared to rise out
of the water, and then came a lurch of the
canoe, the quick flash of knife, and an
awful yell from the Wakwaf1 who was
sleeping by my side (and the same poor fell
| and something warm spurted into my face.
In an instant the spell was broken; knew
that it was no nightmare, but that we
were attacked by swimming Nasal
Snatching at the first weapon that came to
hand, which happened to be Umslopogaas'
hattle-ax, l struck with all my force in the
direction in which had seen the flash of
the knife. The blow fell upon a mans
arm, and, catching it against the thick
wooden gunwale Of the canoe, completely
severed it from the body lust above the